NEET-UG: Rules, tough problems test 2.19 lakh from Maharashtra

Maharashtra topped the registrations, followed by Uttar Pradesh (1.57 lakh), Tamil Nadu (1.40 lakh), Rajasthan (99,711) and Bihar (84,443). This is the first time the exam was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

More than 15 lakh students across the country, including 2.19 lakh students from Maharashtra, took the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate (NEET-UG) medical and dental seats on Sunday. While many complained of problems at their exam centres, others said the exam was moderately difficult, with the chemistry section tougher compared to last year.

More than 15 lakh students across the country, including 2.19 lakh students from Maharashtra, took the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for undergraduate (NEET-UG) medical and dental seats on Sunday. Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo

Maharashtra topped the registrations, followed by Uttar Pradesh (1.57 lakh), Tamil Nadu (1.40 lakh), Rajasthan (99,711) and Bihar (84,443). This is the first time the exam was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Until last year, the Central Board of Secondary Education conducted the test.

“The biology and physics sections were good and most of us felt the paper was easier than last year. However, the chemistry section had some very difficult questions,” said Anjum Sheikh, one of the aspirants.

Maharashtra has around 5,700 medical and dental undergraduate seats in private and government colleges.

NTA had made the dress code clear – light clothes that are sleeveless or have half sleeves and no shoes. Students had to enter the exam centre at least two hours in advance in order to finish the frisking procedure.

“In some centres, students who reached 30 minutes before the exam were not allowed to enter the premises. In some cases, students whose dresses had long sleeves had to cut the sleeves before entering the exam centre,” said a parent.

Some parents have complained to the NTA that the students received the answer booklets late, but were not given extra time to finish exams.

This year, registrations to NEET had to be extended by one week till December 7, 2018, after the Supreme Court allowed persons above the age of 25 to appear for the all-India medical entrance test.

NTA revealed that 5,144 candidates in this category registered in the first week of December 2018.

NEET UG was a three-hour exam with 180 objective type questions from physics, chemistry and biology (botany & zoology), making a total of 720 marks.

Candidates had the choice to opt for the question paper in any one of the eleven languages offered by the examination authority.